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In the Bible, Jesus told us that God would do anything we asked in his name. As a result, Christians say “in the name of Jesus” after asking for things. Very often, God pays no attention. What’s the problem?

There are a lot of ways to go at this issue. I could point out that you have to read the WHOLE Bible and apply each verse consistently with the rest of the book. The Bible says that God does what we ask, if it comports with his will. Obviously, if you combine that with the bit about the name of Jesus, you see that God won’t necessarily do things just because the name is invoked.

But there is a common sense explanation which may be easier to comprehend.

When Jesus said for us to speak in his name, he didn’t just mean we should use his name for clout. He meant we should speak in order to achieve his goals, as though we were him.

Here is something that may make it clearer. Imagine you work for the IRS. Instead of being careful with taxpayers’ money, you have conferences in Las Vegas. You pose sitting in a hotel bath tub with a glass of expensive wine in your hand, showing off the things you paid for with other people’s wages. Then the taxpayers find out. What are they going to do? Are they going to congratulate you and give you a bonus? No. They’re going to try to get you fired, because you’re an idiot.

Why would they be displeased? Because you weren’t really acting in their name. You weren’t serving them. You were serving yourself, to the detriment of their agenda.

Imagine you work for Shell Oil. You have an expense account. They send you to New York to talk about buying another company. While you’re there, you use the expense account to pay for a nice hotel, good food, transportation, ten $5000 hookers, a kilo of cocaine, and a Ferrari Enzo.

How will your boss at Shell feel about that?

What if you’re in New York, and before you send for the hookers, you call your boss and ask him to clear it in advance, because it’s company business? Do you think he’ll go for it? On the other hand, what if you close a deal for Shell, and you ask them for five billion dollars to pay what Shell agreed to give the other party? No problem. It’s yours.

When we accept salvation, we claim we give our hearts to Jesus. Usually, we’re lying. We are afraid of hell. We’re tired of being defeated in life. We want help. And after that, we want God to take care of us and make sure our live are pleasant, while we do whatever we think is right in our own eyes.

Most of us don’t buy into the mission. In fact, we use salvation as a tool to avoid buying in. We do what we want, and we ask God to forgive us over and over. We do what we want, knowing it’s wrong, INTENDING to ask for forgiveness when it’s over.

Why would God continue backing you? Why would he continue funding your expense account, if you do nothing worthwhile with it?

I used to feel that the purpose of Christianity was to save us from hell and make life easier. That was crazy.

“In the name of Jesus” means “with the authority of Jesus, for the purpose of doing his will, as revealed by the Holy Spirit.” If you came up with your own plan, and you say “in the name of Jesus,” you’re just using the name as a magic word to force God to be your slave. That doesn’t work.

There are a number of plateaus in the Christian life. First, you accept salvation. Then you can receive the baptism with the Spirit. Then you can choose to pursue and live by the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit. Then, if you want to go farther, you can dedicate your existence to serving God. With every plateau, your power and authority will increase. You can’t expect a lot if you won’t go to the next level.

You can say something in the name of Jesus without mentioning his name, and you can use his name while doing something he is not involved in. There are people who ask God to help them beat the slot machines, in the name of Jesus. You really can’t expect him to give you faith for that.

Strong faith comes from God, not from you. The more you identify with God’s purposes, the more faith you will have. Power comes from faith. It’s the currency of the supernatural realm. Serve God, and he will make you rich. The faith you generate on your own has some power, but it’s not the real thing.

We are supposed to be kings, priests, heirs, and children. All the power of the realm is ours, but we are supposed to serve. Because we don’t serve, the power doesn’t flow, and our enemies trample us every day. The vast majority of us live in defeat. We don’t demand and decree. We beg for alms, and we use the name of Jesus. Then when God grants our requests, we think it’s because of the name, but in reality, it’s just pity.

We beg for alms in our own kingdom, because we reject the obligations of royalty.

The name of Jesus is powerful, when you know why you’re using it. Otherwise, you’re just insulting God.

If you change your heart and think of yourself as a being created for the sole purpose of expanding God’s kingdom and fighting his enemies, God will increase your faith, and you will have authority. Your prayers won’t fall to earth, and neither will your curses. I say this as a witness.

If you’re happy begging, continue. Let yourself down. Let your kids down. Let your wife down. But while you live in defeat, don’t pretend things aren’t as they should be. You’re getting exactly what you pay for, except that it’s tempered by God’s mercy.